Spring construction



May s. 1928.

v. HUGHES SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 5, 1923 [warez-22:71"

3M g ar'neg Patented May 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vro'ron HUGHES, on DAYTON, oHIo, ASSIGNOR o GENERAL moronsnnsnanoarona'rron, or DAYTON, OHIO, A coRPonArron' or DELAWARE.

SPRING consrnuo'rron.

Application filed oewber a; 1923. serial No. 666,219.

bly, including a plurality of spring blades.

in stacked relation, in position, whereby relative longitudlnal movementof the blades is prevented without providing holes in the blades whichwould tend to weaken them.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein preferred embodiments "of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a springinclud-ing the prefered form of spring structure.The clamping element of. the spring as well as the front axle to whichone end of spring is attached are shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form ofconstruction of the spring.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 20 designates the frame of theautomobile to which is secured the spring supporting bracket 21. Thisbracket 21 includes a channel portion 22 in which the other end of thespring 23 is adapted to rest. One end of the channel 22 is secured to apost 24 by means-of a. stud 25, this stud also securing the post 24 tothe frame 20. U bolts 26 are associated with the bracket 21 in such amanner so that when nuts 27 are screwed in po sition on the U bolts andtightly drawn up, this end of the spring 23 will be rigidly held inposition in the bracket and channel members. The lower blade 23' of the.spring 23 is secured to the front axle 28 in any suitable manner. Thefree ends of the spring blades making up the spring 23 are preventedfrom moving sidewise by both the side walls of the channel members 22and also by means of a clip 29 surroundingthe four loxger blades of thespring 23 near their free en s. i

The ends of the spring blades adjacent to the bracket 21 areeachiprovided with an up turned portion 30, the outer surface of each ofthe upper blades fitting into the inner surface of the turned up end ofthe next adjacent lower blade, while the'outer suras are shown in Fig.1, have face of the turned up end of this second blade fits inside theinner surface of the turned up edge of thethird blade and so on for theentire blade assembly. The outer surface of the turned up edge of thelowest blade 23 abuts against the projection 31 formed on the insidesurface of the bottom of the channel member 22, thereby preventinglongitudinal movement of the lower blade in this direction. The curvedor turned up ends of the blade being nested in each otheras has beenmentioned heretoforewill thus prevent longitudinal movement of thespring blades toward the post 24 of the channclnnember 22. "The inneredge of the turned up portion of the upper springblade abutting againstthe edge of the bracket 21 will prevent longitudinal movement of thespring blades in the opposite directionor toward the axle 28. In theFig. 2 a similar spring is shown, the spring blades however instead ofhaving turned up edges bulges 40 provided at their ends, the end of thebulges on one spring engaging with the forward edge of the bulge of itsnext lower adjacent spring. In this case the lowest spring has its endabutting against the projection 41 formed on the channel member 22 whichprevents longitudinal movement assembly in this direction.

The advantage of using the structure of this type in vehicle springresides in the fact that no holes are formed in the springs forreceiving bolts or studs to prevent longitudinal displacement of theblade memhers. Providing holes in spring blades will tendto weaken thespring.

While the forms of embodiments of the of the spring invention asdisclosed constitutes preferred forms, it is to be understood that otherforms might be adopted, all coming within the scope ofthe claims whichfollow.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a spring device for motor driven vehicles and in combination withaspring supporting bracket, a spring made up of a plurality of leavesarranged one upon another, and the extremities of which are providedwith abutments in engagement with one another throughout the end of thespring; a stop carried by said bracket, and

which stop is engaged by the abutment of the upper of said leaves tothereby prevent longitudinal movement of said upper leaf;

a fixed member independent of said bracket and secured to said frame ata point spaced apart from said bracket, and which member extends beneaththe end of the spring; means for clamping the end of the spring betweensaid bracket and said fixed member; and a second stop carried by saidfixed member and with which the abutment of the lower one of said leavesengages to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of said lower leaf.

2. Ina spring device for motor driven vehicles and in combination with aframe member, and a spring supporting bracket carried thereby; a springmade up of a plurality of leaves arranged one upon another, and theextremities of which are bent to provide abutments in engagement withone another throughout the end ofuthe spring; a stop carried by saidbracket, and which stop is engaged by the bent abutment of the upper ofsaid leaves to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of said upper leaf;a

member independent of said bracket and fixedly secured to said framemember at a point spaced apart from said bracket, and which memberextends beneath the end of said spring; means for clamping the end ofthe spring between said bracket and said fixed member; and a second stepcarried by said fixed member, and with which. the bent abutment of thelower one of said leaves engages to thereby prevent longitudinalmovement of said lower leaf.

3. In a spring device for motor driven vehicles'and in combination witha frame member, and a spring supporting bracket carried thereby; achannel member secured to said frame member and the free end of whichlies adjacent said bracket; a spring one end of which lies between saidbracket and said channel member and which spring is made up of aplurality of leaves arranged one upon another, and the extremities ofwhich leaves are provided with abutments in engagement with one anotherthroughout the end aforesaid of the spring; a stop carried by saidbracket, and which stop is engaged by the abutment of the upper of saidleaves to thereby prevent longitudinal mov ment of said upper leaf;means for clamping said bracket, said channel member, and the endaforesaid of the spring between them together; and a second step carriedby said channel member and with which the abutment of the lower one ofsaid leaves engages to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of saidlower leaf.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiiX my signature.

VICTOR HUGHES.

